What are the essential components of a self-management program designed to help workers with chronic low back pain stay at work? A mapping review

For many workers suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP), the main challenge after a disabling episode is not returning to work in itself, but rather sustaining this reinstatement. The goal of this study was to identify key elements that should be included in a self-management (SM) program in order to facilitate a sustainable return to work for patients suffering from LBP. We conducted a mapping review to examine the current evidence surrounding this issue in four databases (CINAHL, PudMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library). Key content elements of SM programs, as well as facilitators/barriers associated with sustainable RTW were extracted and analysed. Only three studies that met our eligibility criteria. Results from these studies suggest that, in the context of RTW, the two most valuable components of an SM program are educational materials and strategies specifically tailored to the work context. Among this admittedly scarce evidence, we were able to identify valuable elements that should be included in SM programs in order to promote a sustainable RTW. Additional studies assessing the effectiveness of both current SM programs and programs developed based on our recommendations will be called for to further support our results.

对于许多患有慢性下腰痛（chronic low back pain, CLBP）的劳动者而言，经历致残性发作后面临的核心挑战并非重返职场本身，而是维持这一复职状态。本研究旨在明确自我管理（self-management, SM）项目中应纳入的核心要素，以助力下腰痛（low back pain, LBP）患者实现可持续性重返职场。我们依托CINAHL、PubMed、Scopus及Cochrane Library四大数据库开展系统映射综述，梳理当前围绕该议题的相关证据。研究提取并分析了自我管理项目的核心内容要素，以及与可持续性重返职场（return to work, RTW）相关的促进因素与阻碍因素。最终仅有三项研究符合本研究的纳入标准。上述研究结果显示，在重返职场场景中，自我管理项目最具价值的两大组成部分为教育材料，以及专门针对工作场景定制的干预策略。尽管现有证据相对匮乏，但本研究仍明确了可纳入自我管理项目、以推动可持续性重返职场的核心要素。未来需开展更多研究，评估现有自我管理项目及基于本研究建议开发的项目的有效性，以进一步验证本研究结果。